Catch the odissi performance centred around a pastel festive backdrop featuring a cow and its calf.
LET the vibrancy of culture illuminate your hearts at Queensbay Mall in Penang this festive season.
The shopping centre’s three-week-long “Kaleidoscope of Deepavali” festivities bring captivating sights, traditional performances and fun activities for all in the family.
Highlights include Indian cultural dance performances by the Temple of Fine Arts Penang at 2pm today and tomorrow.
Today’s routine will be kollatam, a folk dance that originated from the southern part of India where dancers pair up and rhythmically strike sticks while moving in a circular pattern.
Tomorrow features odissi, one of the oldest classical dance styles of India.
Originating in Odisha in the east, it emphasises sinuous postures that closely mimic poses seen on temple sculptures.
These performances will take place at the central atrium, which has been transformed into a radiant and symbolic display of lights and colours.
The final batch of winners for the ‘Shop and Be Rewarded’ campaign opening boxes to discover what prizes they won.
Pastel purple and pink predominate the main stage that is bedecked in intricate motifs and backed by giant, illuminated lotus fronds.
Surrounding it are kandeel (lanterns), kuthuvilakku (oil lamps), floral blooms and threads with different colours carrying various auspicious meanings.
But the centrepieces are sculptures of a cow and her calf adorned with floral garlands.
The cow is a revered animal by Hindus and regarded as a “mother” whose milk nourishes all living beings.
Queensbay Mall centre manager Lee Sue Ling said it went for a softer and more loving ambience this year to reflect their positioning as a family- oriented mall.
“This represents our desire to embrace shoppers from all walks of life and nourish them with cherished and memorable moments.
“In Malaysia, we are blessed with many festivals. And each year, we strive to make our spaces a backdrop for everyone to come together,” Lee said at the launch.
Temple of Fine Arts Penang dancers delivering a ‘bharatanatyam’ performance.
The launch also featured a bharatanatyam performance, an equally old classical dance style.
This style was first recorded in Tamil Nadu, before eventually spreading across the south.
Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Hindu celebration that signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and enlightenment over ignorance.
The word is a portmanteau of deepa which means lights or illumination, and avali which refers to a row or line of something.
Other activities in the “Kaleidoscope of Deepavali” programme include the Q-Kids Club Deepavali Decorative Pot Painting workshop at 3pm on Oct 26, and the ongoing Deepavali packets redemption for those spending RM288 or more in a maximum of two same-day receipts.
Chan (left) and Lee touching an orb to launch the ‘Kaleidoscope of Deepavali’.
There are other promotions and giveaways from mall tenants such as Boost, Kiehl’s, Forever 21 and Rollney.
During the launch, the mall also gave away prizes to the final batch of winners of its three-month-long “Shop and Be Rewarded” campaign.
Prizes included an iPhone 15 Pro, an 11-inch iPad Air, AirWheel Mini T motorised luggage, Bose Ultra Open earbuds, Garmin Forerunner165 smartwatch, and cash vouchers.
Lee and CapitaLand mall management general manager Peter Chan gave away the goodies.
